Plugged In

Meet the 15 legends of NBA 2K12

With an NBA lockout looming, basketball fans might have to look for alternative ways to get their hoops fix in the coming months. NBA 2K12 for the Xbox 360 and PS3 hopes to fill the void -- and they're making a compelling case, especially if you dig old-school roundball.

But you'll do more than just lob Sky Hooks and strut around in short shorts. Each player is accessed in the game's new 'NBA Greatest' mode, which lets you play as a classic team featuring the legend in a famous matchup. That dramatically increases the number of classic stars in the game.

For instance, you can play as Jerry West's 1970-71 Lakers against the rival Hawks, led by "Pistol" Pete Maravich, or take Magic Johnson's 1990-91 Lakers up against Clyde Drexler's Blazers. 2K has even added visual filters to capture the grainier look of older broadcasts.